Podcast Alert!: Are We Human, Or Are We Comedians?

So excited to finally officially announce @brianmgray and I have launched our podcast: Are We Human, Or Are We Comedians, the podcast where we ask….are we human, or are we comedians?

Episode 1: WELCOME
Brian and I were very gentle on ourselves when working on this, since we both have a history of overextending ourselves. With this introductory episode we ask: “What does it mean to be welcoming?” and also, “Why are we doing this?” This episode has a great easter egg hint as to how long we’ve been working on it, see if you can find it!!!

Thank you again and please subscribe, follow, and share!!! 🎉🎉🎉

You can find more info here!: https://linktr.ee/humancomedians

Podcast details:

“C’mon, I just want to be a comedian.”

We’ve often heard this kind of response any time tough topics (like ethics or abuse) arise in the comedy world. This podcast attempts to answer the age-old question: can someone be both human AND a comedian? LA-based comedy writer and performer Laurie Bolewitz and Pittsburgh-based improviser and comedy producer Brian Gray examine their own little corners of the comedy world in the hopes of understanding the bigger picture.

No strangers to exploring these sorts of questions: Laurie and Brian have participated and learned/unlearned from many great workshops on challenging topics such as equity and inclusion, racial justice, unconscious bias, and trauma. However, with this introductory series, we’re starting with some pretty gentle questions like, “What does it mean to be welcoming in a comedy scene?” and, “Is it okay to make money doing this?” While we may not have all the answers, we do have a feeling some of these issues are deeply intertwined. We hope this project helps connect us with humans and/or comedians asking similar questions.

This limited series will feature thoughtful chats, research, and special guests!

Your co-hosts:

Brian Gray is an improv teacher, coach, and performer who has been active in the Pittsburgh comedy scene for over 15 years. He is one of the founders of the Pittsburgh Comedy Festival, which supported both national and local acts. He has taught and performed throughout the US, including Austin, Baltimore, Detroit, New Orleans, Phoenix, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Brian is committed to anti-racism, gender equality and economic justice, and has participated in workshops with Inclusant, Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit, What’s Up?! Pittsburgh, and has trained and volunteered with PAAR. He loves musicals and cats (but not the musical Cats).

Laurie Bolewitz has written for Late Night with Jimmy Fallopian Tubes at UCB and McSweeney’s; and is a current monthly contributor to the website Humor Darling. She’s performed at the Laugh Riot Grrrl Festival at Tao Comedy Studio and Broadway Comedy Club West. Before moving from Pittsburgh she produced “Best Joke Period” which uncovered some of the best menstruation jokes ever told. Laurie has an MA with a focus on intersectional feminist Art History, and was recently selected to participate in the Diverse as F*ck Comedy Festival workshop with The Onion. She has lived on the East Coast, West Coast, and the United Kingdom (inland, not near a coast). She loves cats.

A Little More About Us:

Laurie and Brian occasionally crossed paths in the Pittsburgh comedy scene circa 2007. They lived across the street from each other circa 2013–2015. They both were very active in the Pittsburgh improv scene at this time. One day, their polite indifference to each other blossomed into a strong and supportive friendship, and now they have this podcast together. They both love cats.

Our podcast’s artwork is by the amazing Josie Norton.

Josie Norton is a human/illustrator based in Pittsburgh, PA. She has been published in the New Yorker, NY Times, and Washington Post, and was chosen for the 2021 American Illustration Archive. Despite her experience as an improv performer and amateur sketch writer for the past five years, she couldn’t think of anything funny to say for this bio. You can see more of her work in Instagram @josie.m.norton and josienorton.com.

Our editor extraordinaire is Andy Sell.

We think he is very cool so please check him out on Twitter: @andy_sell.